‘Gift Shop of Gratitude’ Links Common Souvenir Items to How Readers Experience Life

Playing Cards suggest a gallery of portraits of the people most influential in your life; bobbleheads might immortalize the people you put on a pedestal; scented candles might bring back favorite aromas such as burning leaves in Fall (now outlawed for reasons of air pollution) or perhaps the smell of a relative’s pipe tobacco. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Mending Broken IDF Soldiers

Many Israelis, whether as individuals in groups or associations, have taken it upon themselves to provide ‘extra-curricular’ help to the wounded soldiers, visiting them in hospitals, bringing them food or special treats, and generally doing what they can to improve the morale of sturdy young men who suddenly find themselves in a situation of near-helplessness.[Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Parsha Lech Lecha: Leaving Our Comfort Zones

The Torah instructs us to reconnect with the essence of our souls by leaving behind “your land,” which represents our attachment to materialism. Even if we feel trapped in a state of depression or worldly concerns, the path to liberation lies within those very circumstances, the Torah offers us a path forward. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Sefi Rivlin

Courtesy of Wikipedia Sefi Rivlin (November 7, 1947 – December 3, 2013) was an Israeli actor and comedian. He was best known for his roles in the satire show Nikui Rosh [he] (“Head Cleaning”), the children’s program Rega im Dodley and its spin-off At Fistuk’s Home [he]. Yosef “Sefi” Rivlin born and grew up in Nahalat Yehuda (present-day Rishon LeZion). He was born

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Israel, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Voices of Jewish Opera Stars to be Savored at the JCC on Nov. 14

“Jews in Opera” will feature the recorded voices of 15 outstanding Jewish opera singers at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov.14, in the Astor Judaic Library of the Lawrence Family JCC. Many of the recordings are from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library. I will be hosting the program, and my in-person guest will be the distinguished Ukrainian-born mezzo soprano, Susanna Poretsky. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Dan Senor

Courtesy of Wikipedia Dan Senor (November 6, 1971) is an American columnist, writer, and political adviser. He was chief spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and senior foreign policy adviser to U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 election campaign. A frequent news commentator and contributor to The Wall Street Journal, he is co-author of the book Start-up Nation: The Story

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News Media, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

A Jewish Tale Woven Through Napoleon’s Campaign in Egypt and Eretz Israel

This Jewish love story is woven into an account of Napoleon’s unsuccessful war in Egypt and Ottoman Palestine in the final years of the 18th century. Descriptions of the battles and the wanton cruelty of both sides in the war pitting mainly French Christian troops against indigenous and Turkish Muslim defenders remind current-day readers of the murderous barbarism attendant to Hamas’ invasion of southern Israel on October 7, 2023. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Daughter Pictures Life of Mother Who Died Two Hours After Giving Her Birth

Two hours after Lola Kantor was born, her mother died of complications in childbirth. Lola was given her mother’s first name, but, of course, she had no memory of her. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA